Original Short Story

Eyeing someone you love from a distance is never easy. The agonizing pain of watching your to-be lover lock lips with someone else feels like they’re physically ripping your heart out and throwing it around. It was my last year of high school. This was it. It was time to make a move, now or never. 

I had concocted a well laid out plan to go chase the man of my dreams. However, every perfect plan, always comes with a minor problem. In this case, my man, Luke, already had a girlfriend. This was not surprising, given the fact that he was class valedictorian, captain of the football team, and not to mention, the hottest looking guy on the planet. Nonetheless, I wasn’t worried. I knew that we had a special connection way before he did. 

Though it made me want to gouge my eyes out every time Julie and Luke started making out, spending time with Luke was easier than I thought. I merely took advantage of the fact that Julie was my best friend, and would ask me to tag along every time they went on a date. I tried my best to stay low-key and not express my feelings too strongly, all the same time giving subtle hints to try and reach out to Luke. Holding on to the hope that he would realize that I was a much better fit for him than Julie ever will be, the many days of third-wheeling drifted by swiftly. 

There were three more months until graduation. Prom was approaching, and I needed to act fast. I was getting my promposal ready for Luke when all of a sudden, the obnoxiously loud text tone of Julie startled me. As I skimmed my IPhone X, tears started welling up in my eyes. I had been asked to not crash their dates anymore. They were ready. Instead of giving up completely, I was even more determined, relieved by the fact that Julie wasn’t catching on to my devious plan. Quickly drying my tears, I continued to work on the gigantic poster made with love that could hopefully win Luke over. 

The teachers dismissed us to go get our posters, for it was time for the promposals. I walked up to Luke with my Fender CF-60 guitar and started singing. He returned a brilliant smile, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, I felt the crisp smack of Julie’s hand ripple through my skin. 

“How could you do this? You know that I love him!” Julie fiercely screamed.

“And you think that I don’t?” I roared back at her.

It was no use. Julie and Luke had fled the scene that she had created. The thousands of eyes gawking at me in horror only wanted to make me possess invisibility powers. I ran as fast as my two feet-long legs would carry me – away from the awkward scene.

The long dreaded day of prom had finally arrived. My parents gave me the firm instructions, saying that I had to go, no matter how much I didn’t want to. After all, it was my senior year. I picked myself up off the ground and started to get dressed. Going to the prom alone was worse than being rejected by the love of your life. I drove in solitude as I listened to a lonesome voice ricochet off the windows of the creaky blue Nissan. After what seemed like hours of driving, the looming building of the school appeared in the distance. I just had to get through the night without seeing Julie and Luke together. The sight of them together just made my stomach churn with anger. 

The gymnasium was booming with slow, romantic tunes. Apparently I had been late for an hour. The sparkling decorations on the walls were more aesthetic than I would have ever imagined. I no longer recognized my classmates. Everyone glammed up and had put on their best face. The eerie feeling of being alone at school slowly faded, and I began to warm up to the excitement of the party.

“Punch?” asked Julie’s mom, who happened to be one of the parent volunteers.

“No thanks, I’m not thirsty.” I hastily replied.

“Luke seems to be a little out of it. Do you know what’s going on between them?”

As Luke and Julie were dancing, his head seemed to be in the clouds. There was some indistinct conversation that carried on between the two, abruptly ending with Luke leaving the gym. I couldn’t be bothered to go after him or consult Julie about what had happened, considering what had happened a few weeks prior. I just tried my best to ease myself into the sweet melodic music and enjoy whatever time there was left. 

It wasn’t long before I found myself wandering outside, surrounded by the breezy air of April. Somehow I had sauntered all the way to the football stadium. To my surprise, I found Luke sitting glumly on the metal bleachers. I quickly joined him, and we sat in utter quietness. 

He broke the silence by saying, “I broke up with Julie. I’ve wanted to for quite some time, but I just haven’t been able to muster the courage to do so. I have wanted to break up with her and get together with you for the longest time. I’m sorry I didn’t do that sooner.”

“Okay.” was all I was able to say, complemented by a million thoughts ransacking through my brain.

More time went by as we just enjoyed each other’s muted company. 

“Would you like to go out for some ice cream?” I faintly asked

Luke’s entire face beamed with happiness. 

“You bet, Evan.”